The United Kingdom Royal Fleet Auxiliary vessel RFA Lyme Bay, on Wednesday, arrived in Lagos as part of a defence engagement tour across West Africa, aimed at bolstering regional maritime security.
The visit, under the framework of the UK-Nigeria Security and Defence Partnership, established earlier this year, includes stops in Nigeria, Ghana, Sierra Leone, and Senegal.
This was contained in a statement signed by the Senior Press and Public Affairs Officer, British Deputy High Commission in Lagos, Ndidiamaka Eze, on Wednesday.
While in Nigeria, RFA Lyme Bay’s crew will conduct joint training exercises with the Nigerian Navy, focusing on maritime capability and interoperability.
The UK Royal Marines on board will lead boarding and search drills alongside Nigerian counterparts, as part of a broader initiative to enhance Nigeria’s maritime security and defence capabilities.
The ship will also host Nigerian dignitaries and offer tours to showcase its capabilities.
Following the Lagos visit, RFA Lyme Bay will participate in the multinational exercise, Grand African Nemo, a maritime security exercise off the Nigerian coast involving naval forces from Spain, France, Portugal, Italy, and Nigeria.
The UK’s Deputy Defence Adviser to Nigeria, Commander Jonathan Howe, underscored the importance of the UK-Nigeria partnership in tackling piracy and violent extremism.
Howe stated, “The UK is committed to improving regional maritime security, as well as increasing Nigeria’s ability to constrain security threats ranging from piracy, violent extremist organisations.
“This deployment demonstrates our pledge to work with the Nigerian government to tackle shared international security challenges and help improve maritime security in the Gulf of Guinea.”
The Commanding Officer of RFA Lyme Bay, Capt James Wingrove, described the visit as an opportunity to strengthen ties and hone skills through collaboration.
“It is a great privilege to bring RFA Lyme Bay alongside in Nigeria.
“The opportunity for my ships’ company and embarked forces to visit the region presents an exciting prospect whilst the ability to train alongside our Nigerian counterparts to hone skills, improve capability and demonstrate our interoperability is extremely valuable,” Capt Wingrove said.
The deployment followed the February 2024 renewal of the UK-Nigeria Security and Defence Partnership, which also addresses counter-terrorism, cyber security, and multi-agency responses to kidnapping and other regional threats.